Meteorological apparatus



Aug. 15, 1944. 1. E. McCABE METEOROLOGICAL APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5, 19422 Sheets-Sheet 1 i mm Tc M \TTURNEY.

\ Aug. 15, 1944. l. E. MOCABE METEOROLOGICAL APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5,1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. #54 E- M CASE BY V61 ATTORNEY.

servation possible.

' Patented Aug. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE U Marnonpnoercar.aPPAnA'rUs IraE. McCabe, Chicago,.fll. Application October 5, 1942,Serial No. 400,922 8 Claims. (01. 111-329) A f This invention relates toimprovements in meteorological apparatus and more particularly to aninstrument or device to be attached to a a pilot balloon whereby thetravel of the balloon at night will make high altitude upper wind ob-With airplane flying around feet high altitude upper wind data loomsmore important anddesirable andin addition is often useful to a weatheranalyst and forecaster through altitudes of 15,000 to 40,000 feet.

For theodolite night observations candle burning lanterns have been sentaloft by pilot balloans up to 20,000 feet with favorable success, thedisadvantage of such forms of light sources,

however, being the handling difficulties in preparing for ascentincluding the assembly of lighted candles, the launching with high surface winds prevailing, and the fire hazard naturally encountered.

As an alternative'form of light source, electric bulbs of theauto bulbtype have been used with dry cells for this purpose. Success with thesehas been comparable with the candle type with l the advantage of ease inhandling and launching regardless of surface winds and the eliminationof fire hazard. However, the dry cells lose their efficiency at lowtemperature below about Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the liquidreceptacles showing one in central vertical section and the means forreleasing the contained liquid. Figure 5 is a top plan view of theenvelope containing the liquid receptacles and pads as assembled beforethe envelope is folded over with parts of the envelope broken awayillustrating the relation of the liquid receptacles and pads and alsoshowing the batteries and lamp in their normal position resting upon thebottom of the envelope.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of Figure 5 showing the envelope asnormally folded over at'the center to embrace the batteries and supportthe lamp.

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of this improved device as attached toa pilot balloon (not shown).

Figure 8 is a view in perspective illustrating the manner in which thenecks of the liquid receptacles are broken.

,5 Fahrenheit -(at about 15,000 feet) requiring the use of heatinsulation and with theaggregate weight of the lamp and battery unit issuffi- .cient to represent a hazard in falling from several milesaltitude when the balloon bursts unless a small parachute isconnectedthereto.

It is an object of this invention to provide an instrument or device ofthis character without a parachute combining theefllciency of the candlelight type with the lack of hazardousweight of the electric lampbulb-type. It is another object of this invention to provide a devicewhich will be efficient at above 30,000 feet altitude as well as tocompensate for the altitudeat'which the balloon carrying the instrumentis released.

With these and other obiects in view, reference is made to theaccompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate a preferred form ofthis invention with the understanding that detail changes may be madewithout departing from the scope thereof. a

In the drawings: t

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of this invention as assembled in itstransportation container with successive parts broken away toward thecenter showing the exposed elements in eleva-, tion.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of a heating pad. Figure 3 is a Figure9 is a detail view of the preferred type of electric lamp bulb inelevation with parts broken away to illustrate the internalconstruction.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 illustrating a modified form oflamp.

Figure 11 is a view in central vertical section through a modified formof liquid receptacle.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, this invention contemplatesthe production of a meteorological instrument to be carried by pilotballoon above 30,000 feet altitude for night observation which employsan electric flasher lamp energized by a two cell dry battery. As theballoon ascends the atmospheric pressure and temperature decrease untilthe intense cold at extremely high altitudes renders the dry cellbattery inoperative and as the flasherlamp is of the mercury tube type,the mercury solidifies. To meet and overcome these conditions, thebatteries are not only protected by insulation but a positive source ofheat is provided to maintain the batteries in operative condition.

As shown in the drawings, the electric flasher lamp I is preferablyconstructed in accordance with the disclosure this applicant'sco-pending applications, Serial Nos. 440,684 and 440,685, both diedApril 2'7, 1942, which include a pool of mercury 2 with one electrodepassingthrough the sealed end to terminate below the surface of themercury, which electrode adjacent its lower end supports a capillarytube 4 which presents a meniscus of mercury to be normally engaged bythe movable end 5 of the other electrode the opposite end of which iscarried on one end of a strip 6 of bi-metallic metal. The other end ofthe strip 8 is mounted and connected to one end of the lamp filament'Iwhich in turn is connected to 'the other electrode 8 passing throughthe seal of the lamp, as shown in Figure 9. As described in saidco-pending applications, when the electrodes 3 and 8 are connected incircuit with the source of electricity the completing of the circuitenergizes the filament l. The heat from the glowing filament acts uponthe strip 6 to move the end of member 5 out of contact with the meniscusof mercury inthe tube 4 to break the circuit through the lamp. Thecircuit is re-established upon the cooling of the filament I so thatthere is a continuous flashing of the lamp as long as it is connected inseries to the source of electricity. It is also preferable to coat theupper surface of the bulb I with a light reflecting material 9 to directthe rays of the flash downwardly.

' It is also preferable to provide two small dry cell electric batteriesI and I I connected in series with .each other and with the electrodes 3and 8 of the lamp. As shown in Figure the lead I2 from electrode 3 isconnected to one terminal of the battery I0 and lead I3 from theelectrode 8 to one terminal of the battery II. Lead I4 is connected tothe other terminal of battery I0 and is adapted to be connected to thelead I5 connected to the other terminal of battery I I. The leads I4 andI5 are of sufiicient length to project beyond the instrument for-thepurpose hereinafter described. e

To insure the operativeness of the batteries I0 and II at high altitudeswhere the low temperature encountered would normally render thebatteries inoperative, a source of heat is provided to embrace thebatteries. eludes two heating units I6 and I1, each of which includes aheating pad I8, such as disclosed in patents, Nos. 2,040,406 and2,040,407 of May 12, 1936, and Nos. 2,208,815 and 2,208,816 of July 23,1940, containing a chemical enclosed in a foil envelope with one sideperforated as at. I9, Figure 2, and a similar size pad 20 of absorbingmaterial placed next to the perforated side of the pad I8 and coveredupon the opposite side witn waxed paper 2i or other liquid imperviousmaterial, as shown in Figure 3. When water or antifreeze liquid isintroduced at one end between the pads I8 and 20, the entire surface ofthe absorbing material of pad 20 becomes moist and the moisture passesthrough the perforations I8 in the pad I8 to combine with the chemicaltherein to produce heat.

To provide a source of water or anti-freeze solution for each heatingunit, liquid receptacles 22 and 23 are provided for each element, asshown in Figure 4. These receptacles are preferably spherical in shapewith a radial filling stem 24 for partially filling with the desiredliquid 25-and the filling stem then drawn into a capillary tube 26 andthe end tipped off to form Cellophane or other moisture imperviousmaterial so that the liquid receptacles 22 and 23 are adjacent eachother but in spaced apart relation with the cord 28 on the outside ofthe envelope. The ends 30 of the envelope are then sealed.

This source of heat inthe lamp I.

In assembling the instrument, the batteries III and II are laid upon oneend of the Cellophane envelope 29 adjacent the pad 20 with the lamp Iprojecting therebelow as shown in Figure 5. The envelope is then foldedover as shown in Figure 6 so that the heating elements I5 and I1 embracethe batteries I0 and II with the leads I4 and I5 projecting through andbeyond the folded portion and the cord 28 attached to the closures 21 ofthe liquid receptacles 22 and 23 extending between the pads I8 and 20 ofeach element and then through the sealed ends 38 of the envelope 28. Thfolded envelope 23 as shown in Figure 6 is then wrapped in a layer oflight weight insulating material 3| such as Kimsul" which is preferablyheld in place by ties 32 of thread. The cylindrical package so formed isthen inserted in the open end of a cylindrical covering 33 preferably ofaluminized Cellophane or other light weight heat insulating materialwith the open end extending beyond the insulation 3I to the end of thelamp I as shown in Figure 7. The leads I4 and I5 are passed through theclosed end of the cover 33 and extend therebeyond a sufficient distanceto be engaged with each other to form a supporting loop 34.

It is preferable to insert the instrument so assembled into a metalcontainer or casing 35 having a closed end section detachably secured tothe casing by means of a sealing strip 36. Into the closed end a spacer31 is placed having a center opening to receive the bulb I and cord 28to support the bulb in spaced apart relation with the end of the closedsection. The leads I4 and I5 are disconnected and separated and thencoiled about within the opposite open end of the casing 35, whereafterthe case is hermetically closed with the end cover 38 providing a sealedsafe package for transportation and protection until the instrument isto be used.

When it is desired to use this instrument, the container 35 may beopened by a key 39 to remove the sealing strip 36 and the instrumentremoved. The insulation about the ends of the leads I4 and I5 is removedand the bare leads joined and twisted about each other to complete thecircuit from the batteries I0 and II through The instrument is thenreversed as shown in Figure Band cord 28 is manually jerked to fracturethe capillary tubes 26 by the removal of the closures 21 from the liquidreceptacles 22 and 23 between the pads of each heating unit It and II.The instrument is then inverted and attached by the loop 34 formed bythe joining ofleads I4 and I5 to the support cord) of the pilot balloon,not shown.

The air entrapped above the liquid 25 in each of the liquid receptacles22 and 23, when the closure caps 21 are removed, will be at the sameatmospheric pressure as the surrounding air and will vary with thealtitude of the place where the balloon is to be released. The removalof the closure caps 21 and the inverting of the instrument will allowthe pressureof the entrapped air to force the liquid from thereceptacles between the pads of the heating elements I6 and I! as theballoon ascends and the normal atmospheric pressure decreases therebgenerating sufficient heat about the batteries to maintain theiroperativeness during the observation.

If extremely high altitudes are to be reached truding from the place itin a spherical bulb ll, exhaust the air and then seal the bulb ll toprovide a vacuum therein to insulate the lamp. In such a case theexterior of the bulb 4| may be provided with a reflecting surface 9 todirect the rays of the flasher in a downward direction.

' Figure 11 illustrates a modification of the liquid receptacles forwetting the pads of the heat-, ing elements Iii and i1 which isautomatic in operation and does away with the necessity of the cord 28hereinbefore described.

In thisform a metallic cupshaped vessel is provided with a springdiaphragm which is placed over the opened endof the cup and sealed. The

diaphragm supports at its center to extend into the cup a tapered pin,which, when the diaphragm is pressed inwardly past its longitudinalcenter is caused by a snap action to pass through a hole liquid to theabsorbent pad 20.

In operation, as the balloon ascends, the lowering of atmosphericpressure will result in the pressure within the vessel forcing thediaphragm upwardly breaking the wax seal and gradually opening the holeuntil with the snap of the dia- 'phragm it is completely opened. Theliquid charge and point of operation can be easily established at thetime of manufacture by the de- 'gree of vacuum established within thevessel for illling purposes. T

An instrument as described and illustrated in Figure '1 has beenproduced which weighs 3 ounces and has been successfully tested tomaintain the batteries in operative position to flash the lamp duringcpnditions which correspond to 60 minutes of flight to an altitude of42,000 feet.

While the flasher type lamp has been disclosed herein as the preferredform of lamp to be used in such an instrument, a constant burning lampsuch as the auto type previously referred to may be employed withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention;

What I claim is:

1. A means protecting dry cell electric batteries from excessive cold inmeterological instruments carried by a pilot balloon for excessive highaltitude observation, said instrument including an electric lampoperated by a dry cell in alignment therewith in the bottom of the vessoas to snap the pinout battery, including heat producing pads rendered Iactive upon the application of moisture placed about said battery, and asource of moisture associated with each pad provided with automaticmeans for progressively releasing the moisture from said source to saidpad as the altitude increases. i

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said source of moisture includespartially filled liquid containers, each provided with breakable sealswhereby upon the breaking of the seals the surrounding atmosphericpressure normally main- 'tains the liquid within the containers and asdischarge the contained liquid upon the heating pads. a

4. In a signal lamp for highaltitude observation, an insulated electricbattery and heating unit having an electric lamp extending exteriorallyfrom the bottom thereof, wires extending exteriorally from the top ofsaid unit adapted to be joined together toconiplete in a series circuitthe battery and said lamp and in addition to provide a means ofattachment to a pilot balloon, said heating unit comprising moistureoperative :chemical heating pads arranged ad- Jacent the battery toimpart heat thereto, liquid containers provided with means to dischargethe liquid contained therein upon lowering atmospheric pressure to wetand cause the activation of the heating pad chemical, said pads andcontainers being sealed within a moisture proof entainers being sealedwithin a moisture proof envelope.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the liquid containers are partiallyfilled with liquid sealed therein with breakable seals, said liquidbeing subjected to the prevailing atmospheric pressure upon breakingtheseal to prevent the discharge of liquid therefrom until loweratmospheric pressure conditions are established and means operable fromwithout the insulated unit to break the seals.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein the liquid containers are partiallytllled with liquid sealed normally closed by a resilient diaphragmactuated member under high atmospheric pressure, said diaphragm underlow atmospheric pressure flexed by the internal pressure within thecontainer to open the portfor the discharge of the liquid therefrom.

8. The structure of claim 4 wherein the liquid containers are providedwith a discharge port normally closed by a resilient diaphragm actuated'member under high atmospheric pressure, said diaphragm under lowatmospheric pressure 7 flexedby the internal pressure within thecontainer to open the port for the discharge of the liquid therefrom,means for conducting the discharged liquid over the surface of theheating pad and insulating the absorbing surface of the pad from themoisture proof envelope.

IRA E. McCABE,

the atmospheric pressure decreases as the alti-

